Newsletter

After recent rains, city crews spraying for mosquitoes

Vector control manager expects an 'explosion' of mosquito reports within the next two weeks.

Recent rainfall has led to standing water across the area that could lead to increased mosquito numbers over the coming weeks. (AP Photo/USDA, File)

Recent rainfall has led to standing water across the area that could lead to increased mosquito numbers over the coming weeks. (Stephen Spillman/A-J Media)

Recent rainfall has led to standing water across the area that could lead to increased mosquito numbers over the coming weeks. (Stephen Spillman/A-J Media)

Recent rainfall has led to standing water across the area that could lead to increased mosquito numbers over the coming weeks. (Stephen Spillman/A-J Media)

In an effort to reduce mosquitoes and the risks they pose, city of Lubbock crews started their annual pesticide spray on Monday, June 24, and will continue spraying each evening through the week.

Teams also are working during the day to get rid of water sources.

“What we really want people to do is look for water sources in yards or on their property and drain them, because we can’t do anything about that,” said cemetery and vector control manager Bridget Faulkenberry. “Or get mosquito dunks from any home improvement store to prevent larvae from hatching.”

In a report she gave to the Board of Health on Friday, Faulkenberry said the state’s first cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Dallas, but Lubbock has not yet had any activity.

She said it is still too early for mosquito activity to be monitored because of the recent wet weather, but she expects an “explosion” of mosquito reports within the next two weeks.

Dallas health authorities began spraying for West Nile Virus on June 19, because there was a large increase in the types of mosquitoes that usually carry the virus. The city of Dallas was the center of West Nile Virus breakouts last year, and had the highest number of deaths due to the virus.

Crystal Woods, the Dallas division manager for mosquito control, says there are have been no confirmed cases of West Nile in Dallas County this year, but the spraying is to deter a potential outbreak.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, “as of June 25, 18 states have reported West Nile virus in people, birds, or mosquitoes,” but the website did not list which states those were. Six cases in people, one of which led to death, have been reported to the CDC so far.

In 2012, Dallas County had around 200 infections and 10 deaths — that’s about 25 percent of the nation’s West Nile cases, all in one city.

Donald May, professor of Health Organization Management at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, said Lubbock residents should begin early prevention efforts, now, such as getting rid of standing water.

“We need to go around the neighborhood and see if there is standing water,” he said. “We need to dump the water out and make sure there is no water standing, and if there are mosquitoes, people can call the city and the city will spray the area.”

May also said to spray the outside of house with insecticide and check to make sure window screens are tight so mosquitos cannot get inside.

Avoiding mosquitoes

According to the Texas Tech Environmental Health and Safety website, these are the recommended actions to take:

■ Use insect repellant containing up to 35 percent DEET when going outside. DEET is the most common active ingredient in insect repellant. It repels insects because the insects hate the smell of the chemicals.

■ Avoid going to mosquito-infected areas, like the woods or wetlands, but if it is necessary to go to these places, wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, a hat and insect repellant.

■ Stay inside when it is dawn and dusk; mosquitoes are most active at these times.

■ Empty anything outdoors that holds water; it can become a mosquito breeding ground.

■ Change water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, etc., at least once a week.

■ Recycle containers that hold water.

■ Make sure roof gutters drain properly.

■ Fix leaky outdoor faucets and sprinklers.

■ Encourage neighbors to remove breeding sources on their properties as well.